Migrating cisco AP's from AirOS to ios-xe wireless controllers

[Ip1]

I want to migrate 300 AP's from 3504 to 9800-L. What is the best way to do is without changing each ap's HA.

[balaji.bandi]

I follow below steps :

1. check the AP compatibility :

https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/td/docs/wireless/compatibility/matrix/compatibility-matrix.html

2. Make sure IOS XE is updated to the latest stable, which can also support your AP Models

3. Build Cat 9800 L - HA in parallel with existing Setup

4. Build Test SSID or same SSID you have in the Live environment.

5. Take Test AP to join to new WLC 9800 and start testing all working as expected. - all your end devices  (since Cat 9800 different approach but works wise same, but config is profile, rf tags..so on)

https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/support/docs/wireless/catalyst-9800-series-wireless-controllers/213911-understand-catalyst-9800-wireless-contro.html

6. Choose the less critical area of APs and move them new Cat 9800 WLC, either way, you can manually move config by config AP with new WLC IP (if you have Prime infra you can make automated)   - Personally I would not advise big bang 300AP Migration until you are 100% sure all work as expected. i am sure you need to run on ground to fix many issues if you come across any issue, so stage wise approach is good for smooth transition

Monitor and input from the client is key area for the migration.

7. Keep migrating batch AP to new WLC ( process same Monitor and health reports).

8. Once all AP is Migrated, remove old WLC and decommission.

[Ip1]

Thanks. New 9800-L works and tested. All good! Now I need to migrate only the AP's.

I have DNAC- Is there a way to automate the bulk AP migration via DNAC?

[balaji.bandi]

Cat 9800 WLC in SD-Acess deployment.

Until the AP and WLC join DNAC can not take control

As I mentioned its your call how you would like to move the AP if the AP is required to download the image.

Options :

• DHCP option 43

• DNS entry for "cisco-capwap-controller"

• Management IP of previous controllers

• Layer 3 broadcast (controller sits on the the same broadcast domain)

• Statically configured controller

• Controllers in mobility group from previous controllers

Maybe you can reset the AP, and Setup the DHCP Option 43 with a new controller is the process works as tested.

or you can move the AP using the manual below command.

config ap primary-base <system name> ap1 <controller ip>

Note: as mentioned big bang approach always have some issues due to downloading image, and more traffic hitting WLC, so taking batch AP and migrating is good to approach. ( also look what is comfort for business)

[marce1000]

 - You may also want to have a checkup analysis of the 9800-L configuration (before or when already in use)  with the CLI command : show  tech   wireless , have the output analyzed by  https://cway.cisco.com/tools/WirelessAnalyzer/  , please note do not use classical show tech-support (short version) , use the command denoted in green for Wireless Analyzer.               Checkout all advisories!
                              APs will probably need new software (to download ) take care of : https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/support/docs/wireless/aironet-700-series-access-points/218447-ios-ap-image-download-fails-due-to-expir.html  and the accompanying bug report (if applicable) -> https://bst.cisco.com/bugsearch/bug/CSCwd80290

 M.

[Leo Laohoo]

I just completed moving >2100 x APs (Cheetah OS) from AireOS to IOS-XE and it had an outage of four minutes and 47 seconds.  

NOTE: 

• "Outage time" was defined as "the time the AP stopped broadcasting the SSID to the time it started broadcasting the SSID". 
• I was moving 2800/3800/4800/1560 and 9130 -- That is two different "generations" of APs.   

Steps:

1. Look at Supported Access Points in Cisco Wireless Software Releases section and download the firmware files for each generation of APs.  Store the files in the TFTP or HTTP server. 
2. (AireOS):  Enable AP debug "debug ap enable <AP NAME>"
3. (AireOS):  Tell the controller to instruct the AP to download the firmware (Step 1) but do not reload - debug ap command "archive download-sw /no-reload tftp://<TFTP_IP_Address>/<FILENAME>.tar" ap-name <AP NAME>
4. For Cheetah OS, wait for 120 seconds for Step 3 to finish.  
5. (AireOS):  Assign the new IOS-XE WLC into the AP "config ap primary-base <WLC NAME> <AP NAME> <WLC IP ADDRESS>"
6. (AireOS):  Force the AP to reboot "config ap reset <AP NAME>"
7. Done.

[Rich R]

> What is the best way to do is without changing each ap's HA.
Move the AP switchport to a different VLAN and use DHCP option 43 to direct the AP to the new WLC.
You'll have to update the HA settings eventually.  Check out new AP priming feature in 17.10.1 but note that 17.10 is not an extended support release so you probably don't want to use that right now - stick to the TAC recommended releases (below) and wait for 17.12 for that feature to be in an extended support release.